Textual display on ice-making machine to assist with ice machine diagnosis and method

ABSTRACT

Ice-making machine with an add on board that has a textual display that can be used for a user to view various parameters of the ice-making machine and its operation and in some cases to adjust the parameters. The add on board includes a processor and a display program that presents a main menu and a series of sub-menus that are selectable from a list on the main menu. The display program includes both a view mode and an adjust mode.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/829,907, filed on Oct. 18, 2006, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/829,898, filed on Oct. 18, 2006, and of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/862,237 filed Oct. 20, 2006, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to an ice-making machine with a textual display and a method for operating the ice machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional ice-making machines do not provide users with an ability to quickly diagnose machine status or condition. It would be useful for both machine operators and service technicians if there was a quick and easy way to diagnose machine status or condition, thereby allowing appropriate action to be taken to reduce delays normally associated with a more manual diagnosis.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present inventors have developed a novel ice-making machine and method comprising a display with a textual capability for various purposes including machine diagnosis and parameter adjustment.

An ice-making machine of the present invention comprises a housing and a display that is mounted to the housing and that comprises a display area an assembly that makes ice, a processor, a memory and a display program. The display program is stored in the memory and when run causes the processor to present in the display area textual information concerning the making of ice by the assembly.

In one embodiment of the ice-making machine of the present invention, the display further comprises a plurality of display control buttons. The display program responds to manual operation of the display control buttons to change the textual information.

In another embodiment of the ice-making machine of the present invention, the textual information is changed by adjustment of at least one parameter of the textual information.

In another embodiment of the ice-making machine of the present invention, the display program switches between a view only mode and an adjust mode and when in the adjust mode adjusts the at least one parameter.

In another embodiment of the ice-making machine of the present invention, the display program presents the textual information in a plurality of menus in the display area. The textual information is changed by a shift from one of the menus to another.

In another embodiment of the ice-making machine of the present invention, the plurality of menus comprises a main menu and at least one submenu.

In another embodiment of the ice-making machine of the present invention, the display program responds to the manual operation of one or more of the display control buttons to shift between the main menu and the submenu.

A method of the present invention operates an ice-making machine by making ice and presenting on a display mounted on a housing of the ice-making machine a textual message concerning the making of ice.

In one embodiment of the method of the present invention, a plurality of display control buttons is manually operated to change the textual information.

In another embodiment of the method of the present invention, the textual information is changed by adjustment of at least one parameter of the textual information.

In another embodiment of the method of the present invention, the textual information is presented in a view only mode or an adjust mode, and when in the adjust mode, the at least parameter is adjusted.

In another embodiment of the method of the present invention, the textual information is presented in a plurality of menus on the display. The textual information is changed by a shift from one of the menus to another.

In another embodiment of the method of the present invention, the plurality of menus comprises a main menu and at least one submenu.

In another embodiment of the method of the present invention, the method further comprises in response to manual operation of one or more of the display control buttons shifting between the main menu and the submenu.

The present invention also provides many additional advantages, which shall become apparent as described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other and further objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters denote like elements of structure and:

FIG. 1 is front left perspective view of an ice-making machine of the present invention with an exploded view of a control board mounting bracket and main control board;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a textual display of the ice-making machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram view of a portion of an advance feature board of the ice-making machine of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 4-20 depict menus and submenus of the textual display of the ice-making machine of FIG. 1;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The ice-making machine of the present disclosure regulates ice making based on time variable electrical power rates and presents information to a user on a textual display.

Some utility companies vary power rates during the day to lower demand during peak use hours. Typical ice-making machines are mounted on or above ice storage bins. When power rates are low, the ice-making machine of the present disclosure runs to fill the storage bin. When power rates are high, the ice-making machine lets the ice level in the bin drop to lower levels and maintains them at the lower levels until power rates drop again. Alternatively, if through monitoring the usage rate of the ice, the ice-making machine determines that at the lower levels the customer will run out of ice, the ice-making machine will make ice regardless of electricity rates.

By way of example and completeness of description, the present invention will be described in a preferred embodiment that comprises a field add on or retrofit to an existing ice-making machine. Referring to FIG. 1, an ice-making machine 20 comprises an assembly 21 disposed in a housing 22. Assembly 21 makes ice and includes an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, a refrigeration circulation system, a water delivery system, various valves and switches (none of which is shown on the drawing). Housing 22 comprises a top wall 24, a bottom wall 26, side walls 28 and 30, a back wall 32 and a front wall 34. In FIG. 1, front wall 34 is detached to show a control board assembly 36. An ice bin 46 is located below bottom wall 26.

Control board assembly 36 comprises a mounting bracket 38 and a main control board 40. A controller 42 and an interface 44 are mounted on main control board 40.

A field add on assembly 50 comprises a bin level control board 52, an advance feature control board 54, a communication cable 56 and a bin level sensing device 58. Bin level sensing device 58 comprises a sensor 60, a mount 62 and a wire 64. Sensor 60 is any suitable sensor that senses a level of ice in ice bin 46. Preferably, sensor 60 is an ultrasonic sensor.

Bin level control board 52 includes circuitry to monitor the current ice level in ice bin 46, a plug (not shown) and a user interface knob 66. Bin level control board 52 plugs into main control board 40. Advance feature control board 54 also plugs into main control board 40 via communication cable 56.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, advance feature control board 54 comprises a processor 70, a user interface 72, a USB port 74, an input/output (I/O) interface 90, a plug 92, a memory 94 and a real time clock 96. An energy program 100 is stored in memory 94 and when run causes processor 70 to control ice making based on the time of day and energy (e.g., electricity) rates via I/O interface 90 and communication cable 56. That is, I/O interface 90 sends and receives signals to and from main control board 40 and ice level control board 52 via communication cable 56. USB port 74 may be connected to an external device 106, such as a personal computer.

User interface 72 comprises USB port 74, a display area 76, a scroll down button 78, a scroll up button 80, a select button 82, an escape button 84 and an enter button 86. A display program 102 is also stored in memory 94 and when run causes processor 70 to present menus in display area 76. Display program 102 responds to manual operation of scroll down and up buttons 78 and 80 to scroll down and up through a list of menu items on a menu presented in display area 76. Display program 102 responds to manual operation of select button 82 to make changes to settings, such as electricity rates and the times of day when applicable or other parameters. Display program 102 responds to manual operation of enter button 86 to change from a main menu list to a sub-menu list. Display program 102 responds to manual operation of escape button 84 to back up through the menu. Display program 102 can also display alerts and data in display area 76. Examples of alerts are “service ice machine soon”, “slow water fill”, “long freeze cycle”, “long harvest cycle”, and “high discharge temperature”.

Ice-making machine 20 operates in the following manner:

-   -   1) Advance feature board 54 obtains electric rates and times of         day when those electric rates are in effect. This is done via         user interface 72 with manual input, a download via USB port 74         or automatic download from a network, such as the Ethernet or         Internet.     -   2) If the electric rates are at their lowest level, ice-making         machine 20 runs until ice bin 46 is full.     -   3) If the power rates are not at their lowest, ice-making         machine 20 will only run if the current ice level in ice bin 46         sensed by bin level sensing device 58 drops below a         predetermined lower level or set point set by the user and will         only run until the lower level set point is achieved. In         preferred embodiments, the lower level set point can range up to         32 inches below the bottom of the ice machine.     -   4) If advance feature board 54 determines that the current ice         level in ice bin 26 is dropping by more than a predetermined         rate, ice-making machine 20 will run to maintain the ice at a         level between the user set point and a full point to avoid         running out of ice. The predetermined rate is based on a usage         factor, for example, in inches per hour, based on ice bin size         and machine ice producing capability. The assumption is that the         machine starts with a full bin of ice. It then tracks the rate         of use as the ice is dropping from the full point to the         predetermined lower level cited above. If this rate is too fast,         it will start making ice to bring the machine back to the full         level. If not too fast, it will let the ice level drop to the         predetermined lower level.

Advance feature board 54 is an add-on board to the base control system of conventional ice-making machines. It provides additional features that are not incorporated into the base control board.

Display area 76 is sized for a plurality of textual lines of a plurality of characters. For example, in one embodiment, the display capacity is two lines and 16 characters per line. Display program 102 can present information in any desired language.

Display program 102 also presents warnings in display area 76. For example, a warning “Service Ice Machine Soon” could be displayed. This warning alerts the user that there may soon be a problem that will stop ice production if not corrected. Once a warning has been set no further warnings will be acknowledged until the current warning is cleared. Also, a text description regarding service information may be presented in display area 76 with the warning. This information could specify problem such as, long water fill time, freeze and/or harvest times exceeding maximum settings, discharge temperature is nearing a temperature setting that will trip the ice-making machine.

Referring to FIGS. 4-20, display program 102 uses a menu structure that comprises a main menu 110 (FIG. 4) and a plurality of sub-menus shown in FIGS. 5-19. When main menu 110 is presented in display area 76, a user can use scroll down and up buttons 78 and 80 to scroll through the items of the list. To select an item, the user stops the scrolling on the item of interest. For example, the user stops on PGM bin level. The user then presses enter button 86 to select PGM bin level. Display program 102 responds by presenting a sub-menu (FIG. 18) that lists times 1-4 and levels 1-4 for Monday. Other days of the week may also be included in the list, but are not shown.

If the parameter being viewed is settable or adjustable, pressing select button 82 will be highlighted, e.g., by an underline or block. If the parameter is not adjustable, it will not be highlighted. In this case, selecting Time 1 will cause Time 1 to be displayed in a format of four character positions “00:00” with the left most position highlighted. Scroll down and up buttons 78 and 80 then are used to select from digits 0 through 9 for the left most position. When the desired digit is reached, select button 82 is pressed to move to the next character position. The procedure is repeated for this character position and the remaining character positions of Time 1. When the right most position has been completed, press enter button 86 to set the parameter. The screen will return to the previous sub menu. Press scroll down button 78 to Level1 and press enter button 86. Pressing select button 82 will load the current selector switch setting from the bin level device. Change the switch position to change the value. When it's set to the desired level, press enter button 86 to set the parameter.

For example, the following keying sequence of the buttons could be used for adjustment of the parameters. Press scroll down button 78 until “Utility Rates” is displayed. Press enter button 86 and the submenu of FIG. 20 will be presented. Scroll through adjustable parameters using up and down buttons 80 and 78. To adjust a parameter, press the select button 82. Use scroll up and down buttons 80 and 78 and select button 82 to change values as needed. Press enter button 86 when complete. Adjustable parameters for the electric utility rate function (FIG. 20), for example, may be: Time 1, Rate1, Time 2, Rate 2, Time 3, Rate 3, Time 4, Rate 4. If the number of rate increments is less than 4, leave the entries as zero and they will be ignored.

In the above example, only numeric values were presented. If alphabetic values are adjustable, scroll down and up buttons 78 and 80 are used to scroll through the alphabet. When finished making changes, pressing enter button 86 stores the changed value. Pressing escape button 84 changes from the adjust mode back to the view mode. Pressing escape button 84 again returns the Main menu to display area 76.

The present invention having been thus described with particular reference to the preferred forms thereof, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. 

1. An ice-making machine comprising: a housing and a display that is mounted to said housing and that comprises a display area; an assembly that makes ice; a processor, a memory and a display program that is stored in said memory and that when run causes said processor to present in said display area textual information concerning the making of ice by said assembly.
 2. The ice-making machine of claim 1, wherein said display further comprises a plurality of display control buttons, and wherein said display program responds to manual operation of said display control buttons to change said textual information.
 3. The ice-making machine of claim 2, wherein said textual information is changed by adjustment of at least one parameter of said textual information.
 4. The ice-making machine of claim 3, wherein said display program switches between a view only mode and an adjust mode, and wherein said display program when in said adjust mode adjusts said at least one parameter.
 5. The ice-making machine of claim 2, wherein said display program presents said textual information in a plurality of menus in said display area, and wherein said textual information is changed by a shift from one of said menus to another.
 6. The ice-making machine of claim 5, wherein said plurality of menus comprises a main menu and at least one submenu.
 7. The ice-making machine of claim 6, wherein said display program responds to the manual operation of one or more of said display control buttons to shift between said main menu and said submenu.
 8. A method for operating an ice-making machine comprising: making ice; presenting on a display mounted on a housing of said ice-making machine a textual message concerning the making of ice.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising manually operating a plurality of display control buttons to change said textual information.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said textual information is changed by adjustment of at least one parameter of said textual information.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein said textual information is presented in a view only mode or an adjust mode, and when in said adjust mode, adjusting said at least parameter.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein said textual information is presented in a plurality of menus on said display, and wherein said textual information is changed by a shift from one of said menus to another.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein said plurality of menus comprises a main menu and at least one submenu.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising in response to manual operation of one or more of said display control buttons shifting between said main menu and said submenu. 